Combined loading and digging machine



Sept. 3 1957 w, JONES 2,804,701

' COMBINED LQADING AND DIGGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1952 4 shee'ts sheet 1 \IVENTOR' Harry Jones ATTORNEYS Sept 3, 1957 w JONES 2,804,701

' COMBINED LOADING AND DIGGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 19 2 g 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR bz M M Sept. 3, 1957 w, JONES 2,804,701

COMBINED LOADING AND DIGGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Harr y Jones ATTORNEYS Sept. 3, 1957 H. w. JONES COMBINED LOADING AND DIGGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Harp W JOIZEs BY 1b a J ATTORNEYS United States Patent COMBINED LOADING AND DIGGING MACHINE Harry W. Jones, Knoxville, Tenn, assignor to Dempster Brothers, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Application September 12, 1952, Serial No. 309,313

4 Claims. (Cl. 37--117.5)

been loosened by bulldozer action. Consequently, it has I been the practice ordinarily to use the bulldozer as a means for loosening the dirt and rock, and to shove it aside out of an excavation. However, when it is required that the dirt and rock be loaded for removal, a separate machine of the loader type has been required for that purpose, such as a power driven dipper type loader, shovel, or other device.

Such a dipper type loader was set forth in Patent No. 2,600,739, dated June 17, 1952, by George R. Dempster. Although the dipper type loader incorporated in said patent has extensive use and versatility as compared with other loading machines, excavators, and shovels, it could not be used in the form of a bulldozer for producing the type of action customarily provided by the latter.

One object of this invention is to combine into one machine an equipment capable of conversion into either a dipper type loader or a bulldozer to enable the power unit of the machine to be used selectively for either type of operation desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a dipper type loader for the interchanging of the dipper and the substitution of a scraping blade therefor to adapt the unit to the operation of either of said implements, whereby the same power unit can be usedselectively for either operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a dipper type loader for the simple and ready removal of the dipper and its operative parts from the tranction unit without affecting the primary operating elements thereof, so as to permit the attachment of a scraper blade to the traction unit, and its operation by the same power means, and which conversion can be made very simple and in a relatively short time so as to convert the machine from one type of operation to'the other.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dipper type loader with power cylinders for operating the motions of the dipper so that the device can be converted readily and quickly to a bulldozer action, by the mere replacement of a few pins, disconnecting the dipper and its attached parts, and substituting therefor the scraping blade, in a very few changes of mechanism which may be made simply and readily.

These objects may be accomplished according to one embodiment of the invention by so locating the attachments of the dipper and its operating parts on the traction unit that it may be readily removed therefrom upon removal of several attaching pins and the substitution therefor of a scraper blade. The dipper is operated by a boom connected withthe dipper by lifting arms, and by a jackknife type of dipper stick operated by a hydraulic power device that is attached to' the frame of the traction unit; The dipper and its operating parts may be removed from the traction unit merely by the removal of the attaching pins from the lifting arms and dipper stick and the separation of the latter'from the power device, after which a bulldozer blade may be substituted for the dipper and attached to the bearings therefor. Thehydraulic power device is connected-with a walking beam on the boom, which walking beam has operative connection with the bulldozer blade through a connecting link that is attached thereto. These several attachments may be made simply and quickly so as to convert the machine from one type of action to another very readily.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine equipped with a dipper;

Fig. l is a similar view, with stituted for the dipper;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the machine and its scraping blade; and

.Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of a portion of the dipper type loader in Fig l. i

The invention as shown is applied to a traction unit ofthe wheeled type, although it is evident that it may be applied to any other suitable form of traction unit, whether wheeled, endless tread, or otherwise, for movement along the surface of the ground under power.

The traction unit is designated generally by the numeral 1, and in the form illustrated, has ground engaging wheels 2, power driven by a suitable power plant generally designated at 3, under the control of an operator within a cab 4.

The traction unit includes a main supporting frame, generally designated at 5, supported on the wheels 2in this embodiment and extending forward and backward on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the traction unit, with suitable cross braces and connecting members to provide a sturdy and rigid frame structure: The details ofthis frame structure, and in fact of the tranction unit, are not set forth herein because such unit is well known in the art and any suitable form thereof may be used, as desired.

V The invention is shown in Fig. l for operating a dipper of the type set forth in the patent to George R. Dempster, No. 2,600,739, granted June 17, 1952. It is capable of being converted, however, to the operation of a scraper blade, such as a bulldozer blade, as illustrated in Figs.

the ready intera bulldozer blade subabulldozer blade, or other scraper.

At the rear end of the main frame 5 is an upright main frame. A

bracket 13. A piston 14 is operatively. mounted in the cylinder 11 and is pivotally connected at 15 with a bracket 16 secured to the laterally extending support 9. This is a single acting power device, as usually provided, although any other suitable form thereof may be used as desired, but ordinarily power is required only for moving the boom 7 in an upward direction and is lowered by gravity.

The other end of the boom 7 is adapted to be connected with the dipper when the machine is used for operation as a dipper type loader.

Adjacent the forward end of the main frame is an upright support 17, and also brackets 18. The support 17 is intermediate the width of the main frame, while the brackets 18 are at, or adjacent, the opposite sides of said frame.

A dipper stick is pivotally supported on the brackets 18 and comprises an upstanding arm 19 and a lever 20 pivotally connected together at 21, substantially in jackknife form. The upright arm 19 is secured to the brackets 18 by hinge pins 22 that are removably inserted through opposite sides of the arm 19 and through the brackets 18, to permit removal of the dipper stick from the main frame when desired.

, The arm 19 is connected with a hydraulic power device of the double acting type, generally designated at 23. This power device 23 comprises a cylinder 24 pivotally connected by a pin 25 with a bracket 26, the pin being removably connected with the bracket for separation and removal of the power device therefrom. The bracket 26 is mounted upon the support 17, as shown in Fig. 1. A piston 27 is operatively mounted in the cylinder 24, and has a piston rod 28 extending therefrom to a pin 29, which is removably inserted through the end of the piston rod and through a bracket 29' in. the arm 19 for detachment therefrom and separation of the power device upon removal of the dipper stick and dipper.

The dipper is designated generally at 30, the body of which is pivotally supported at 31, at the outer end of the lever 20, being carried by the latter and by a pair of lifting arms 32, which extend downward from the lateral sides of the forward end of the boom 7. The lifting arms are connected with the boom through removable pins 33 that may be detached therefrom for disconnection of the lifting arms when desired. The pivot pins 31 also may be removed, if desired.

The dipper 30 may be of the usual type of excavating dipper, the body of which is maintained in a position relative to the lever 20 by a link'34, pivotally connected respectivelywith the arm 20 and with the body of the dipper. The connection with the link may be adjustable as by a series of holes selectively engaged by a pin pass ing through the link.

A dump door is designated generally at 35, on the back face of the dipper, and hinged to the body thereof. This door is adapted to be opened by a flexible device 36, extending therefrom to a power unit 37 mounted on thelever 20. The power unit 37 preferably is electrically operated under the control of the operator in the cab 4, so that upon operation of this unit the door will be opened to discharge the material therefrom, usually when the dipper 30 is in an upper position.

The structure described and illustrated in Fig. 1 may be operated as a dipper type loader, generally in the manner set forth and described in the patent of George R. Dempster, No. 2,600,739, granted June 17, 1952, although the structure has been modified and improved.

The hydraulic system connected with the power devices and 23 is not illustrated in detail, nor the control valves therefor, which are under the control of the operator within the cab 4, in the embodiment illustrated. Likewise, the control means for the propelling mechanism for the mobile unit are not shown. Allof these parts are well known in the art, and any suitable form thereof may be used as desired. r

The traction unit may be propelled to move the dipper forward into the material to be loaded, or handled. The dipper is raised and lowered bodily by the boom 7 which is moved in an upward direction by the expansive action of the hydraulic power devices 10 at opposite sides 4 thereof and lowered by gravity upon expelling of the hydraulic fluid therefrom.

The crowd action of the dipper is obtained by the manipulation of the dipper stick 19-20 by the hydraulic power device 23. This power device is double acting and is fluid operated in opposite directions by movement of the piston 27 to swing the dipper stick either forward or backward.

It will be apparent that the dipper 30 may be lowered into the material by the downward swinging movement of the boom 7, acting through the lifting arms 32 to lower the free end of the dipper. Manipulation of the power device 23 Will then produce the crowd action necessary to obtain a scooping up of the material, filling the dipper as the jackknife type of dipper stick is pushed forward and opened due to the cooperation of the boom 7 therewith. wThesemotions may occur simultaneously under the control of the operator who can coordinate the movements of the dipper to obtain the desired results. When the dipper has been filled and lifted to the desired point, a manipulation of the power device 37 will function to open the door 35 and discharge the material from the dipper.

When it is desired to replace the dipper 30 with a scraper blade, such as a bulldozer blade, this may be accomplished very simply and readily, and the latter operated by the same mechanism, as will be apparent from Fig. 2.

It is only necessary to remove five pins in order to detach the dipper and its operating mechanism, namely, the two pins 22, the two pins 33, and the one pin 29, when the dipper 30, dipper stick 1920, and the lifting arms 32 will be separated and removed from the traction unit. These removed parts can be dropped to the ground and the traction unit backed off therefrom and operated up to the scraper blade for attachment of the latter to the traction unit.

. Referring to Figs. 2 to 4, a bulldozer blade is shown generally at 38, having arms 39 at opposite sides thereof, which straddle the traction unit, as shown in Fig. 3, and are made as a rigid part'of the blade. These arms 39 are connected at their rear ends with universal bearings 40 that are suspended on rods 41 from opposite sides of the main frame 5, which rods are secured to the latter and extend downwardly therefrom, as will be apparent from Figs. 2 and 3. The bearings 40 support the blade arms 39 for upward swinging motion, as will be apparent from the full line and dotted line positions illustrated in Fig. 2.

The blade 38 has the body thereof turned upward and is shown as a conventional bulldozer blade, although the details thereof are not illustrated, as the character of the blade may be varied to any desired extent, or other form of scrapcr blade substituted therefor.

The upper edge of the blade 38 is provided with a bracket 42, having a universal connection 43 between said bracket and the lower end of a connecting rod 44. The upper end of the connecting rod 44 is attached by means of a universal connection 45, with the outer end of a walking beam 46.

The walking beam 46 is pivotally supported at 47 on the boom 7, and is mounted intermediate the width of the boom, between opposite sides thereof, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The rear end of the walking beam 46 is connected by a pin 48 with the piston rod 28 of the hydraulic power device 23, after swinging movement of the latter on its pivot pin 25 to the upright position shown in Fig. 2.

The pivot pin 47, for the walking beam 46, is supported by brackets 49 that straddle opposite sides of the walking beam, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Thebrackets 49 are carried by a bar 50 that extends transversely between opposite sides of the boom 7, so as to support the walking beam securely thereon, being secured rigidly to the boom.

During operation of the device as the dipper type loader, as shown in Fig. l, the walking beam 46 is held by any suitable means in its aligned relation with the boom 7, remaining inoperative relative thereto. However, upon removal of the dipper 30 and the disconnection of its associated parts from the traction unit and the attachment of the scraper blade 38 thereto, the walking beam 46 functions in response to movement of the hydraulic power device 23, being raised and lowered by the action of the latter, as will be apparent from the full and dotted line positions, illustrated in Fig. 2. It is evident from these positions that the scraper blade may be lowered to a point appreciably below ground level and moved upward therefrom to a position several feet above ground level. In the several positions, and during such movement, the traction unit may be propelled to operate the blade in the usual manner of a bulldozing action to obtain the usual scraping, excavating, or other action customarily obtained with a machine of this type.

During this scraping operation, the boom 7 may be anchored in a fixed position by suitable tie means, such as held-down cables indicated at 51 in Figs. 2 and 4, the lower ends of which are shown attached by the pins 22 to the brackets 18, while the upper ends are connected with stirrups 52 that extend over the sides of the boom 7 in saddles 53 thereon. These cables 51 will prevent upward forces acting on the boom 7 from pulling a vacuum on the hydraulic power devices 10, and ensure the maintenance of the boom in its set position.

It will be evident that the device may be converted from the dipper type loader, as shown in Fig. 1, to the bulldozer or blade type of machine, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4, very simply and readily as described. After detachment of the dipper from the traction unit, as described above, it is a simple matter to attach the arms 39 to the universal pivotal connections 40 on the frame 5. The connecting rod 44 attached to the blade 38 may be lifted to the outer end of the walking beam 46 and connected therewith at 45. The hydraulic power device 23 is moved upward from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, and attached at 48 to the walking beam 46. The cables 51 are attached to hold the boom in place. The device then is ready for operation as a bulldozer or scraper.

This entire conversion can be made merely by the detachment of five pins and the dropping of the dipper mechanism. Thereafter the traction unit can be moved into the bulldozer blade and connected therewith at the two pivot points 40 and the single point connections 45 and 48. This entire conversion can be made very quickly, changing the device from one type of operation to the other and using the same power unit 23 for the operation either of a dipper type loader or a bulldozer blade.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. In material handling equipment of the character described, the combination of a mobile frame adapted for selectively handling a loading dipper or a scraper, one of which is completely removed from the mobile frame before the other is attached thereto, and which dipper and scraper are not mounted on the mobile frame simultaneously, a power unit on the frame and movable to two different operating positions relative thereto, a boom pivotally mounted at one end on the mobile frame, a walking beam pivotally mounted on the boom adjacent its other and free end, said mobile frame when handling the loading dipper including means carrying the dipper adapted for connection to the mobile frame and the free end of said boom for connection to the power unit in one operating position thereof, and said mobile frame when handling the scraper including means carrying the scraper adapted for connection to the mobile frame and one end of the walking beam, with the power unit moved to its 6 other operating position for connection to the other end of the walking beam.

2. In material handling equipment of the character described, the combination of a mobile frame adapted for selectively handling a loading dipper; or a scraper, one of which is completely removed from the mobile frame before the other is attached thereto, and which dipper and scraper are not mounted on the mobile frame simultaneously, a power unit on the frame and movable to two different operating positions relative thereto, a boom pivotally mounted at one end on the mobile frame, a power device pivotally mounted on the mobile frame and operatively connected with the boom intermediate its ends for swinging the boom vertically on its pivotal mounting, a walking beam pivotally mounted on the boom adjacent its other and free end, said mobile frame when handling the loading dipper including means carrying the dipper adapted for connection to the mobile frame and the free end of said boom for connection to the power unit in one operating position thereof, and said mobile frame when handling the scraper including means carrying the scraper adapted for connection to the mobile frame and one end of the walking beam, with the power unit moved to its other operating position for connection to the other end of the walking beam.

3. In material handling equipment of the character described, the combination of a mobile frame adapted for selectively handling a loading dipper or a scraper, one of which is completely removed from the mobile frame before the other is attached thereto, and which dipper and scraper are not mounted on the mobile frame simultaneously, a power unit on the frame and movable to two different operating positions relative thereto, said power unit comprising a hydraulic cylinder, means pivotally mounting the hydraulic cylinder in an elevated position on the mobile frame, a boom pivotally mounted at one end on the mobile frame, a walking beam pivotally mounted on the boom adjacent its other free end, said mobile frame when handling the loading dipper including means carrying the dipper adapted for connection to the mobile frame and the free end of said boom for connection to the power unit in one operating position thereof, and said mobile frame when handling the scraper including means carrying the scraper adapted for connection to the mobile frame and one end of the walking beam with the power unit moved to its other operating position for connection to the other end of the walking beam.

4. In material handling equipment of the character described, the combination of a mobile frame adapted for selectively handling a loading dipper or a scraper, one of which is completely removed from the mobile frame before the other is attached thereto, and which dipper and scraper are not mounted on the mobile frame simultaneously, a power unit on the frame and movable to two different operating positions relative thereto, a boom pivotally mounted at one end on the mobile frame, a walking beam pivotally mounted on the boom adjacent its other and free end, said mobile frame when handling the dipper including a plurality of links pivotally connected together and to the free end of the boom and carrying the dipper, means for connecting one of said links to the power unit in one operating position thereof, said mobile frame when handling the scraper including means carrying the scraper adapted for connection to the mobile frame and one end of the walking beam with the power unit moved to its other operating position and connected to the other end of the walking beam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 21,447 Allin May 7, 1940 2,045,426 West June 23, 1936 2,173,158 Corbett Sept. 19, 1939 (Other references on following page 

